Starhome Launches Operator Roaming "Fraud" Detector"

Starhome says that it has launched an Anti-SOR (steering-of-roaming) Detector which provides mobile operators with the capability to detect roaming partners who apply Anti-SOR practices. Starhome's Anti-SOR Detector solution complements its suite of roaming services with built in logic to identify methods being used by roaming partners to counteract the SOR and provide the operator with focused alarms and comprehensive reports about violators.

The GSM Association's BARG (Billing and Accounting Roaming Group) guided against unilaterally applying Anti-SOR. This can be defined as any technical network based method which can effectively frustrate, counteract or undo the effect of SOR when applied without the consent or participation of either the roaming subscriber or the HPMN operator.

Starhome's Anti-SOR Detector allows the operator to detect potential revenue leakage by identifying anti-SOR activities such as the blocking of "update-location" messages from reaching their SOR platform, locking roamers into a network and simulation of manual selection.

The Anti-SOR Detector interoperates with Starhome's Intelligent Preferred Network (IPN) solution and continuously monitors traffic statistics and records exceptional changes in traffic volume, rates of manual selection events, signalling following IPN actions (e.g. after rejects). Upon detection there is potential with the Anti-SOR Detector to apply resistance signalling to defeat the anti-SOR as well as triggering the appropriate alarm to the operator to make it aware of this potential breach of its roaming agreement.

"There are many issues that the operator must take into consideration when dealing with SOR and as recognised experts in this technology we are able to keep abreast of all new developments," said Orly Nesher VP Marketing at Starhome. "By using our expertise and the information sourced from our extensive experience with SOR it is possible for Starhome to enable mobile operators to maximise their roaming business potential and not fall victim to Anti-SOR."

Posted to the site on 17th July 2007